No. 4 Seed Virginia Hosts High Point in WBIT Opener

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – No. 4 seed Virginia (15-15) makes its first postseason appearance since 2018 on Thursday (March 21) when the Cavaliers host Big South regular-season champion High Point (20-11) in the first round of the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). Tipoff from John Paul Jones Arena is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

PARKING INFORMATION

• Fan parking in the JPJ Garage (including numbered spaces), JPJ West, and JPJ South lots require purchase of a parking pass. Lots open at 5 p.m.
• Parking passes can be purchased in advance by clicking here for $10 or on site for $15 (credit/debit card only).
• The Emmet/Ivy Garage is also available as an overflow option free of charge.
• Entrance to levels 1 & 2 of the JPJ Garage is from Copeley Rd only.
• Regular-season parking passes will not be accepted.
• Accessible parking is available with the purchase of a parking pass in the West Lot (accessible from Massie Rd) and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

A WIN FOR THE CAVALIERS WOULD…

• Give Virginia its first postseason victory (not including ACC Tournament) since its 68-62 win over Cal in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
• Guarantee UVA finishes its 2024 campaign with at least a .500 record for the second consecutive year under head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton.
• Be the Hoos’ first postseason victory at John Paul Jones Arena since posting three wins in the 2012 WNIT.

VIRGINIA’S POSTSEASON HISTORY AT A GLANCE

• This year marks Virginia’s 35th overall postseason appearance.
• The Cavaliers have appeared in 25 NCAA Tournaments, eight WNITs and one in the AIAW.

SERIES HISTORY

• Virginia leads the all-time series against High Point, which began in 2008, 3-0.
• All three meetings (2008, 2011 and 2013) fell within UVA’s first three games of the season in the month of November.
• The Cavaliers’ average margin of victory in the series is 24.3 points.

LAST MEETING BETWEEN THE HOOS & HIGH POINT

• The last time the two teams met was in the Hoos’ home opener on Nov. 11, 2013.
• Under the direction of former head coach Joanne Boyle, the Cavaliers won 73-54.
• Then-sophomore guard Faith Randolph matched her career high of 19 points.

COMMON OPPONENTS BETWEEN UVA & THE PANTHERS

• This season, Virginia and High Point share two common opponents in Virginia Tech and Wofford.
• The Cavaliers combined for a 1-2 record against the Hokies and Terriers, while HPU went 1-1.
• Virginia split its season series with Tech, 1-1, and dropped a heartbreaker to Wofford at the buzzer.
• The Panthers were blown out 94-55 by the Hokies in their second game of the season, but cruised to an 80-64 victory over Wofford a week and a half later.

LAST TIME OUT

• Two weeks ago, No. 11 seed Virginia dropped a heartbreaker, 58-55, to 14th-seeded Wake Forest in the first round of the 2024 Ally ACC Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum.
• The Cavaliers let their 15-point lead dwindle away in the fourth quarter as the Demon Deacons outscored UVA, 23-9, in the final 10 minutes of play.
• Nine minutes into the fourth quarter, Virginia had only one made field goal.
• The Hoos were led by Camryn Taylor (18 pts, 8-14 FG, 5 reb) and Kymora Johnson (15 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast).
• With her third assist of the night, Johnson set the UVA freshman assists record, surpassing Sharneé Zoll’s 2005 record of 157 assists. Johnson now has 162 total assists on the season.

ON THE HORIZON

• The winner of (4) Virginia-High Point takes on the winner of (1) Villanova–VCU.
• Tipoff times are expected to be announced either late Thursday evening or early Friday morning.